By: Nathan Chen

On Sunday, June 25th, voters in Guatemala headed to the polls to elect a new president and other government officials. The election was hotly contested, with 19 candidates running for president and a number of major issues at stake. Polls opened at 7:00 am and closed at 6:00 pm, with results expected to be announced within the next few days.

Leading up to election day, concerns arose about voter intimidation and fraud. Some candidates, including Sandra Torres, the center-left candidate running on the Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (National Unity of Hope) ticket, accused the government of incumbent President Alejandro Giammattei of pressuring voters to vote for the right-wing candidate, Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla, who is running on the Vamos Por una Guatemala Diferente (Let’s Go for a Different Guatemala) ticket.

Despite the controversy, an estimated 8 million Guatemalans were registered to vote, and many of them braved long lines and COVID-19 concerns to cast their ballots. In addition to the presidential election, voters also had the opportunity to choose representatives for the country’s 160-seat Congress, as well as to elect mayors and other local officials.

Issues at the forefront of the election included corruption, violence, poverty, and lack of access to basic services like healthcare and education. Guatemala has long been plagued by corruption and political instability, and the winner of this election will face significant challenges in addressing these issues.

The election was seen as a crucial moment for Guatemala’s future, with the potential to shape the country’s trajectory for years to come. Whether voters were able to cast free and fair ballots remains to be seen.